Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-29
OLD MRS. BUSYBODY.
characteristics of a Female MeddIer
Who is to be Found Everywhere.

1t is strange idea some people have
that they are sure they can manage
another PERSONS affairs much better
than that PERSONS self. They are, as a
rule, those who are incompetent to
conduct their own affairs, allowing
them to get along as best they can at
haphazard. Nevertheless, they like to
remark what they would do In regard
to your business. ''If were in your
place." they are fond of saying, "I
would do SO and So" where it Is pretty
certain were they in your place the af-
fairs would be left to settle themselves,
while they were busy about somebody
else'5 business. They are sure to find
ont all that IS happening among their
neighbors, no matter how private it is
supposed to be, and are fond of plying
them. Such expressions as, "I pity
Mrs., she has such hard time to get
along" or her husband or children
have done something that they ought
not to have done, and, of course, a per-
son that knows everybody's business
has heard of it, although it may not be
known to any one else outside the fam
lily circle.
Few people care to have their family
affairs discussed in public, and fewer
still care for the pity Of such a person
as the above. Pity is all very well in
some instances, but in> this case, 81
pity you," is generally equivalent for
81 expected as much" a person of
this stamp would be astonished if &C.
cused of making other people Cncom-
Portable, for she really intends every
thing for the best, and has an idea she
is doing you a favor by advising you
how she would act if in your place. 1t
does not make the slightest difference
to her that you have not asked her ad-
vice; she feels In her own mind that
you are in need Of such, and she is Just
the one to give it to you, for she Is pos
tive she understands all the workings
of your household, and is the only one
competent to advise you. A person of
this kind IS found in nearly all neigh
borhoods, and is always terror to
most hOuSekeepars, but more particu-
larry Is this true with timid woman.
who does not like 10 resent such inter-
ference for fear OF offending, but listens
to it all, and then wonders If she
couldn't manage better II she tried
hard, though It does seem as il to try
any harder than she has done is out of
all reason.
If members of family were careful
not to bring any little differences away
from home, in the way of complaints
about some one with whom they have
had a misunderstanding, but have all
such things quietly settled in the home,
there would be so little that Mrs
Busybody could do or say, that she
would leave family affairs alone. and
contentedly turn to the caring for own
business. If things don't go just right
in the home, have patience and in a
short while they will adjust themselves.
nAn't 90 gith your 0riave-.~s 70 an
outsider Ior advice or consolation, even
If she is your best friend. Outsiders
never do any good In cases OF this kind,
though they may have the best inten-
tions to do so. They only widen the
breach; and where at first, IL allowed
to be settled In the home, away from
outside interference, 1t could have been
easily done, when once abroad 1t be-
comes almost impossible to adjust 1t.
There Is no place in which family DIFF
erences can be as easily settled as the
Gome, in fact, in most cases there Is NO
place but the home that can properly
adjust them, for only there are all
those pecHliarItles and eccentricities OF
disposition of its inmates thoroughly
known. If care is taken to guard the
privacy of the home life, the Mrs.
BusybodIes will soon drop out of exist